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Topic: The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! (Read 2048 times)

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close isin 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th whenMars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth andwill be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest75-power magnification

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

Mars will be easy to spot. At thebeginning of August it will rise in the east at 10.pm

and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the end of August when the two planets areclosest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 .am. That's prettyconvenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar atthe beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

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"Lurch my good man,â€¦what did you mean when you said just now that 'You've got better things to do than run my petty little errands'â€¦â€¦.?"

Thanks, this is the first time I have heard this mentioned and will be waiting for the thrill of a lifetime. I thought the comets hale bop and kohutec(sic) were the ultimate astrological events of my days,but it sure sounds as if this will make them pale by comparison.